How to Crochet a Jogless Join: Easy Tutorial
Crocheting stripes while working in the round can be a bit challenging. You often end up with a noticeable "step" at the color change, also known as a jog. This can be particularly annoying when making projects like amigurumi. In this tutorial, we'll explore a technique known as the jogless join to make your color changes seamless and polished.
Step One: Stop the Last Stitch in the Old Color
- As you reach the end of the current round, complete the final stitch of that round with your old color, but stop just before the last step of the stitch.
Step Two: Transition to the New Color
- Cut your old color's yarn, leaving a tail of several inches. This tail will be used to create the jogless join.
- Join the new color by making a slipknot and securing it on your crochet hook.
Step Three: The Jogless Join
- Insert your hook from right to left under the top two loops (front and back loops) of the first stitch of the new round. You should position your hook as if you're going to start a regular stitch.
- Yarn over with the new color and pull up a loop through the stitch, so you now have two loops on your hook.
Step Four: Completing the Jogless Join
- Yarn over with the new color again and pull through both loops on the hook.
- You've now successfully completed a jogless join. Continue crocheting with the new color as you normally would. You've effectively hidden the color change, and your rounds will appear smooth and seamless.
When you crochet a jogless join, you achieve a much smoother transition between colors. This method helps eliminate the noticeable "step" that often occurs with a regular color change. It creates a polished look in your crochet projects.
Give this jogless join technique a try in your next project and see how it enhances the overall appearance. It's a simple yet effective method to make your color changes look better, whether you're making amigurumi or other crocheted items.
Remember to maintain consistent tension throughout your work for the best results. This technique is especially effective for single crochet, half-double crochet, and double crochet stitches. So, why not give it a shot? Your crochet projects will look even more professional and polished with the jogless join!
